Bible: Judg 13

Samson’s Birth

13:1The Israelitesagaindidevilin the Lord’ssight,1sothe Lordhandedthem over to the Philistinesfor fortyyears.

13:2There wasa mannamedManoahfrom Zorah, from the Danitetribe. His wifewas infertileand childless.213:3The Lord’sangelic3 messengerappearedtothe womanand saidto her, “You4are infertileand childless,5but you will conceiveand have a son.13:4Nowbe careful! Do notdrinkwineor beer, and do noteatanyfood that will make you ritually unclean.613:5Look, you will conceiveand have a son.7You must nevercut his hair,8 forthe childwill bededicatedto God9frombirth. Hewill beginto deliverIsraelfrom the power10of the Philistines.”

13:6The womanwentand saidto her husband, “A mansent from God11cametome! He looked likeGod’sangelicmessenger– he was veryawesome.12I did notaskhim wherehe came from, and hedid nottellme his name.13:7He saidto me, ‘Look, you will conceiveand have a son.13So now, do notdrinkwineor beerand do noteatanyfood that will make you ritually unclean.14Forthe childwill bededicated15to Godfrombirthtillthe dayhe dies.’”

13:8Manoahprayedtothe Lord,16 “Please, Lord, allowthe mansentfrom God17to visit18us again, so he can teach19us howwe should raise20the childwho will be born.”13:9GodansweredManoah’sprayer.21 God’sangelic messengervisited22the womanagainwhile shewas sittingin the field. But her husbandManoahwas notwithher.13:10The womanranat once and toldherhusband,23 “Come quickly,24the manwho visited25methe otherdayhas appearedto me!”13:11So Manoahgot upand followedhis wife. When he met26the man, he saidto him, “Are youthe manwhospoketomy wife?”27 He said, “Yes.”2813:12Manoahsaid, “Now, when your announcementcomestrue,29 howshould the childbe raised and what should he do?”3013:13The Lord’smessengertold31Manoah, “Your wifeshould pay attentionto everythingI toldher.3213:14She should not drink33anythingthatthe grapevineproduces. She must notdrinkwineor beer, and she must noteatanyfood that will make her ritually unclean.34She shouldobeyeverythingI commandedher to do.”13:15Manoahsaidtothe Lord’smessenger, “Pleasestay here awhile,35so we can preparea younggoatfor you to eat.”3613:16The Lord’smessengersaidtoManoah, “IfI stay,37I will noteatyour food. But ifyou want to makea burnt sacrificeto the Lord, you should offerit.” (He said this becauseManoahdid notknowthathe was the Lord’smessenger.)3813:17Manoahsaidtothe Lord’smessenger, “Tell us your name, so we can honoryou when your announcementcomestrue.”3913:18The Lord’smessengersaidto him, “You shouldnot askme my name, because you cannot comprehendit.”4013:19Manoahtooka younggoatand a grain offeringand offeredthem ona rockto the Lord. The Lord’s messenger didan amazingthing as Manoahand his wifewatched.4113:20As the flamewent upfrom the altartoward the sky, the Lord’smessengerwent upin it42while Manoahand his wifewatched. They fellfacedown43 to the ground.